The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of New
Hampshire and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery
efforts in the area struck by a severe winter storm beginning on December
11, 2008, and continuing.

Federal funding is available to State and eligible local governments and
certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for
emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the
severe winter storm in the counties of Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos,
Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, and Sullivan.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard
mitigation measures statewide.

R. David Paulison, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named James N. Russo as the
Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the
affected area.

FEMA said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested
by the State and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.